We have stumbled on a new hobby called Letterboxing. I have been wanting to A.) get out and do some hiking and B.) find inexpensive things to do locally since gas is so high and we will probably not take a vacation this year. Letterboxing is our answer! I copied the following from Letterboxing.org.
Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of treasure hunting, art, navigation, and exploring interesting, scenic, and sometimes remote places. It takes the ancient custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of a mountain to an artform. It started when a gentleman simply left his calling card in a bottle by a remote pool on the moors of Dartmoor, in England.
Here's the basic idea: Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.
Once the clues are written, hunters in possession of the clues attempt to find the box. In addition to the clue and any maps or tools needed to solve it, the hunter should carry at least a pencil, his personal rubber stamp, an inkpad, and his personal logbook. When the hunter successfully deciphers the clue and finds the box, he stamps the logbook in the box with his personal stamp, and stamps his personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook keeps a record of all its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found, in their personal logbooks.
Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of treasure hunting, art, navigation, and exploring interesting, scenic, and sometimes remote places. It takes the ancient custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of a mountain to an artform. It started when a gentleman simply left his calling card in a bottle by a remote pool on the moors of Dartmoor, in England.
Here's the basic idea: Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.
Once the clues are written, hunters in possession of the clues attempt to find the box. In addition to the clue and any maps or tools needed to solve it, the hunter should carry at least a pencil, his personal rubber stamp, an inkpad, and his personal logbook. When the hunter successfully deciphers the clue and finds the box, he stamps the logbook in the box with his personal stamp, and stamps his personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook keeps a record of all its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found, in their personal logbooks.
So we got our clue and headed to a Park very near our Home.
Getting ready to head out.
Walking down a beautiful trail.
Looking back up the trail
The tail was so pretty it made you feel like you were in the Smokies or something.
I love this picture. Walter is quiet disturbed that I took this just as Charlie grabbed his hand. (She knew that I was taking the picture.) He says that it makes him look "loving" with is a horror to a 11 year old boy!!
Walter found the Box.
It was at the base of one of these trees.
Charlie looking through the book at the different stamps and comments that people had left. We forgot to get a picture of the stamp we used. We used one that says "This is the day that the Lord has made"
Walter getting ready to put the stamp back for the next person to find.
We were so happy to find a new hobby and a network of trails so close to home. So get outside and see what you can discover this summer. 
6 comments:
So happy to hear that you started Letterboxing. Matt & I love are big fans of it. (Free entertainment!) :-) Looks like you had fun.
It is so much fun!!
Sounds a lot like GeoCaching. We have done this in the past and it's very interesting! www.geocaching.com
I had never heard of this before, but once things settle down around here a bit, we are going to HAVE to try it....it sounds SO fun! What fun,and the trails are beautiful....we'll have to check those out sometime too!
What fun!! My kids would love this. They like to find clues and be outside.
Sounds fun! (never heard of this before...but you're right...cheap and great family/bonding time.)
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